Stylist, business partner create products for gray hair

Michael Cohen styles Meg Stadtler's hair Friday at Red Arbor Salon in Hendersonville. Cohen and his business partner, Barbara Price, developed a new line of hair products called Gutzy Gray.

MARK SCHULMAN/TIMES-NEWS

By Mark SchulmanTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 10, 2013 at 4:29 p.m.

Two local entrepreneurs have created a hair product line specifically designed for the texture of gray hair, using apple stem cells to stimulate and nourish the hair follicle.

Stylist Michael Cohen, 42, and retired attorney Barbara Price, 61, began the laborious process last June to develop the products, which will make their debut in July at a cosmetic trade show in Las Vegas. Cohen, who has more than 30 years of experience as a hair stylist, partnered with Price, who operates the business side of the venture.

Gutzy Gray shampoo and vitamin hair bath products allow vitamins, oils and apple stem cells to go to the follicle — the only section of a strand of hair that is alive, Cohen said.

Apple stem cells have been used to stimulate aging skin cells on the face, and Cohen said his product will also tap into that technology, but for use on the scalp.

“It not only enhances the look of hair, it enhances the healthiness of the scalp,” he said about the product line.

The idea of using specific ingredients and stem cell research to revitalize hair has been resonating with Cohen for years. He brought that idea to Price, who is one of Cohen's clients, about a year ago at his Red Arbor Salon in Hendersonville. Price decided to get gutsy and go gray.

It was no easy task to bring their products to fruition. The pair worked with chemists out of Texas and tested several formulas on Cohen's clients until they were satisfied with the end result in April.

“It was like a breath of fresh air,” Cohen said of perfecting the products. “There is no better feeling.”

<p>Two local entrepreneurs have created a hair product line specifically designed for the texture of gray hair, using apple stem cells to stimulate and nourish the hair follicle.</p><p>Stylist Michael Cohen, 42, and retired attorney Barbara Price, 61, began the laborious process last June to develop the products, which will make their debut in July at a cosmetic trade show in Las Vegas. Cohen, who has more than 30 years of experience as a hair stylist, partnered with Price, who operates the business side of the venture.</p><p>Gutzy Gray shampoo and vitamin hair bath products allow vitamins, oils and apple stem cells to go to the follicle — the only section of a strand of hair that is alive, Cohen said.</p><p>Apple stem cells have been used to stimulate aging skin cells on the face, and Cohen said his product will also tap into that technology, but for use on the scalp.</p><p>“It not only enhances the look of hair, it enhances the healthiness of the scalp,” he said about the product line. </p><p>The idea of using specific ingredients and stem cell research to revitalize hair has been resonating with Cohen for years. He brought that idea to Price, who is one of Cohen's clients, about a year ago at his Red Arbor Salon in Hendersonville. Price decided to get gutsy and go gray.</p><p>It was no easy task to bring their products to fruition. The pair worked with chemists out of Texas and tested several formulas on Cohen's clients until they were satisfied with the end result in April.</p><p>“It was like a breath of fresh air,” Cohen said of perfecting the products. “There is no better feeling.”</p><p>Gutzy Gray products include Gutzy Gray Shampoo, Glamorous Gray Vitamin Hair Bath, Gunky Gray Pomade and Gorgeous Gray 2 Go Shampoo. The products are also safe gray hair that has been colored. </p><p>The product line will debut in July at the CosmoProf North American show July 14-16 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.</p><p>In the meantime, Cohen uses Gutzy Gray on his clients at his salon on Israel Street in Hendersonville. He was styling Meg Stradtler's hair Friday and applied the Gunky Gray Pomade.</p><p>“It feels so much better on my hair than products I've used before,” Stradtler said. </p><p>Gutzy Gray products will be completed in the coming weeks and will be sold at the still-under-construction website www.gutzgray.com.</p><p>Reach Schulman at 828-694-7890 or mark.schulman@blueridgenow.com.</p>